With the serious environmental issues faced with today, many think it’s unlikely that a single household can make a big difference. But the truth is that every household has the ability to significantly cut back on negative environmental impact. Moreover, if every household took steps to become more environmentally conscious, the collective effect would be truly remarkable.

However, when considering ‘environmentally responsible’ measures, many people envision having to make major lifestyle changes. However, taking on an eco-friendly attitude does not entail switching your entire life around. There are a number of simple steps anyone can take around the house to ultimately make a big difference to their environmental impact.

First and foremost, ensure you start shutting off lights and electrical items – from the television to your computer – when they are not in use. Many people are in the habit of leaving things on when they leave the room or even the house – and it ultimately makes a massive difference, not only to the environment, but to their power bill. You can even take this action a step further by switching off any standby functions on electrical items, such as your television.

Another simple step you can take to save energy around the house is to replace all your regular light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs. Sure, you’ll need to spend money on them up front – but they’ll save you a fortune in the long run, and the measure will certainly impact the environment in a good way. Similarly, you might want to think about replacing inefficient appliances around the house, as well as to fit a jacket around your hot water tank to ensure all the heat isn’t escaping.

Find you’re using too much heat during the winter? Lower your gas usage – and bills – by shutting your curtains. Keeping your curtains closed traps heat inside – and the thicker the curtains, the more effective they’ll be in keeping the heat in. And whilst on the topic of heat, don’t overfill the kettle when heating up water for tea or coffee. Only place as much water as you need in the kettle, foregoing superfluous energy use in the kitchen.

Last, but not least, try to take showers instead of baths. Studies show that taking a five minute shower uses only one fifth of the water that a bath does. And if you pair your shorter showers with an A-rated gas boiler, you’ll save even more energy and reduce your bills.

While looking after the environment is ultimately a huge task, we can all do our part at home to ensure we save energy. Indeed, it is possible for anyone to cut energy usage in their home, and contribute to a happier, healthier planet.